4.5 stars: who's ready to go to hell?! I was nervous to read this book since I’m such a huge Leigh Bardugo fan (aren’t we all?!) but after taking a brief fantasy break & waiting for my library hold to become available I was ready to dive in. Wow. Ninth House, I don’t know what I was expecting but it wasn’t this & I loved your dark mystery. This book has everything, including an examination of privilege. It has secret societies, ghosts (“grays”), & a very haunted Yale/New Haven. It deals with themes of trauma. It’s funny & spooky & sad & & weird & wow Alex is one complex MC. Also that ending I did NOT see coming. I’m more than ready for book two. Which better include Darlington.